Apparatus for processing fibrous materials



254 Shee'rcs-Sheet l R. LITTLE |1- Al. -V APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FIBROS MTERIALS Filed Dec. 27, 1955 ai Z f6?,

Aug. 9; 193s.

Aug. 9, 1938. R. LITTLE ET AL 2,125,937

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FIBROUS MATERIALS Filed Dec. 27, 1935 s sheets-sheet 42r T 2f az I 7 m' z.V

ff J All@ 9, 1938- I R. LITTLE Erm. 2,125,937

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FIBROUS MATERIALS Patented Aug.I 9, i933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFI-CE APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING FIBROUS MATERIALS Rhode Island Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,338

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for washing, dyeing', bleaching and otherwise processing fibrous materials` such as yarn and thread in package form. By the term package as employed in the following specificationand' claims is meant any Wound mass of textile material whatever its character or form and whether or not supported from within or without. i

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated including a portable carrier on which packages of the material to be treated are assembledin multiple series outside of the kier or other processing 13 chamber and thereafter placed therein as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to providel a carrier of the type indicated adapted to detachably mount a plurality of holders each of lwhich carries a group of packages in a self-contained unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow carrier of the type indicated adapted to receive a treating-duid and to dispense the fluid through a plurality of the units of packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated in which groups of packages are mounted in series on holders to form self-contained units; the holder units detachably mounted on a portable carrier; `and the 30 portable carrier detachably held in a kier.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-` vide an apparatus adapted toy facilitate the as- A sembly of a plurality of packages for treatment with a fluid and to provide for convenience in 3 3 handling the packages to increase the efficiency of the treating operation and to produce a more uniform and satisfactory result in the processed material Further' objects of the invention are set forth 0 in the following specification which describes a preferred form and arrangement of the appara.-

tus, by way of example, and two different types of package-holders for use therewith, as illustrated by the accompanying` drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown partly in section and illustrating the carl rier for the package units detachably clamped in its operative position in a kier; v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of holder for a group of packages showing the manner in which it is detachably mounted on the portable carrier; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the package-holder asscnibly'shovm in Fig. 2;v

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing one of the disks on which the radial supporting slats are iixed;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a portionof the carrier showing the spider clamping element for attaching a package holder in position over a dispensing nozzle therein;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of package-holder assembly showing a perforated cylindrical shell for supporting packages Wound on thin paper tubes; v

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 6 showing the relationship of the elements; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the upper portion of the lifting rod for` the carrier showing its bail locked in inoperative position.V

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for dyeing or otherwise treating packages of textile material with a fluid. The apparatus includes a portable carrier adapted to be lifted into and out of a kier or other processing chamber and a plurality of package holders detachably mounted on the carrier. With the present apparatus the material in the packages may beA processed by submerging the carrier and packages in a treating fluid in the kier but preferably the fluid is forced radially through the packages. The carrier is of hollow construction having an inlet for cooperation with an intake conduit in the kier through which the treating fluid is supplied, and a plurality of outlet nozzles for dispensing the fluid through the hollow holders and packages. Each of the holders is adapted to mount a group of packages which are assembled in axial alinement to form a self-contained unit independent of the carrier and the kier. Means are provided for detachably mounting the package-holder units on the carrier and for detachablyclamping the carrier in the kier with its inlet in register with the intake conduit through which the treating fluid is supplied.

` The present invention may be applied to practically any type of dyeing or treating vessel and as herein illustrated it is adapted for use with a cylindrical kier or vat as shown in the drawings and designated generally by the reference character 8. The kier 8, as shown in Fig. 1, is in the form of a cylindrical vessel having a flat bottom 2 and side wall I0 terminating in an open tcp. When the packages are to be dyed under pressure vwith the flow from the outside inwardly the open top the kier may be closed by a cover, not herein shown, in a manner commonly employed in the srt'. Thel kier Bis supported in raised position above the floor by a base framework II having legs I2. Opening through the center of the bottom 9 of the kier 8 is an intake pipe I4 having its flange I5 bolted thereto at I8. Within the kier 8 is an annular seat-rim I1 surrounding the opening of the pipe I4 and clamped to the bottom 9 of the kier by the bolts I8 for the pipe I4. Formed integrally with the annular seat I1 are spaced arms I9 which extend upwardly and inwardly and merge into a central hub 20 to lform a spider. The hub 20 has a threaded aperture 2| in axial alinement with the opening in the annular seat I1 for a purpose to be later explained. On the side of the kier adjacent its bottom is an exhaust outlet 22 provided with a flanged end 23 for connection with a ilanged pipe 24 by means of bolts 25. The intake and exhaust pipes I4 and 24 are connected to the opposite sides of a suitable pump, not herein shown, for circulating a treating fluid through the kier in the usual manner. Preferably, the kier 8 is supported from a lower base and extends upwardly through a floor 26 above s o thatits interior will be conveniently accessible to the operators.

The portable carrier 30 for the package units is adapted to be bodily lifted into and out of the kier 8 and supported on the bottom 9. 'I'he carrier 30 is of hollow construction having a fiat top wall 3l and a generally curved bottom wall 32 forming a closed chamber 33 therebetween. The carrier 30 is preferably constructed in an integral circular structure of such diameter as to provide an annular space 34 between its outer edge and the wall I of the kier 8. Suitable brackets 35 are provided on the bottom wall 32 of the carrier 33 in the form of feet for supporting it on the floor outside. Centrally positioned in the bottom wall 32 is a circular inlet opening 36 for cooperation with the open end of the ir .take conduit I4. A boss or rim 31 is provided on the bottom wall 32 of the carrier 36 surrounding the inlet opening 36 to adapt it to engage the annular seat I1 in the bottom of the kier 8.

Suitably spaced `apertures 38 are provided in the top wall 3| of the carrier 30 in which are a plurality of outlet nozzles 39 for dispensing the dye liquor or other treating fluid. As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the nozzles 39 are of tubular form having annular flanges 40 intermediate of their ends. The portions of the nozzles 39 below the flanges 40 areV threaded and screwed into the apertures 38 to engage the flanges with the top face of the wall 3I adjacent the apertures. The upper portions of the nozzles 39 form nipples 4I projecting above the top wall of the carrier 30. Each nozzle 39 has a plurality of radial arms 42 which project from its interior adjacent the bottom and extend downwardly and inwardly to form a spider. 'I'he arms 42 are joined by a central hub 43 having a tapped hole 44 extending axially of the nozzle.

A tubular lifting rod 45 extends through the top wall 3| of the carrier 38 and is rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means such as its screwthreaded connection 46 with a hub or boss 41, see Fig. 1. The lifting rod 45 has a collar or enlargement 48 at its upper end with a bail 49 pivotally connected thereto by means of pins B extending through the opposite sides of the bail. The bail 49 is in the form of a U-shaped loop 5I with its ends 52 extended beyond the pivot pins 58. The carrier 38 may be bodily lifted into and out of the kier 8 by attaching a hoist to the bail 49 on the lifting rod 45 and the inlet opening 36 is guided into register with the annular seat I1 by the upwardly-extending spider formed by the arms I9. Preferably, a compressible gasket 53 is provided between the annular boss or rim 31 and the seat I1 to seal the joint.

The carrier 30 is clamped in place in the kier 8 by means of a cap 54 and nut 55 screwed onto the upper end of an. attaching rod 56 fixedly secured within the bore of the hub 20. The lower end of the rod 56 is threaded to screw into the tapped hole 2I in the hub 20 and a set-screw 51 entering the side of the hub has its end engaging turning. The cap 54, shown more in detail in Fig. 8, has a circular iange 59 with recesses 60 on the opposite sides thereof and a depending sleeve 6I adapted to fit within the open end of the tubular rod 45. After the carrier 30 has been lowered into the kier 8 the loop 5I of the bail 49 is swung down into engagement with the side of the tubular rod 45 and the cap 54 placed over the end of the attaching rod 56. In applying the cap 54 its depending sleeve 6I is alined with the annular openingbetween the two rods 45 and 56 with its recesses 60 in the flange 59 in alinement with the extended ends 52 of the bail 49. The nut 55 is then screwed onto the end of the rod 56 to clamp the carrier 30 in position in the kier 8, a packing ring 62 being provided between the cap 54 and collar 48 on the tubular lifting rod 45 to s`eal the joint. The bail 49 is thus locked in inoperative position by the engagement of its extended ends 52 with the re-y cesses 60 in the cap 54 so that the bail cannot be.

raised to lift the carrier 30 out of the kier 8 until the nut 55 and cap 54 are removed. This construction prevents damaging or breaking the parts by attempting to remove the carrier 30 without removing the nut 55 and cap 54.

The packages P to be dyed or otherwise treated may be wound on hollow perforated paper cores C and a group 'of the packages mounted in axial alinement on holders 63. When the packages are to be treated by immersion in the kier 8 or when the fluid is forced from the interior of the packages radially outward the holders 63 are preferably in the form shown in Figs. 2 to 4 of the drawings. This form of holder 63 comprises a cylindrical base member 64 having an annular seat 65 for cooperation with the end of. the nipple 4I on the carrier 38 and a depending skirt 66 for surrounding the nipple to properly position the holder thereon. Preferably, the upper end of the nipple 4I is beveled at its rim to facilitate placing the member 64 thereon. The base member 64 is formed with a peripheral ange 61 with its upper face in the form -of a plate for seating the lowermost dye-cop or package P of a group mounted thereon. Arms 68 extend radi ally inwardly and upwardly from the base member 64 and are joined in a central hub 69 having a' countersunk bore 10. A tubular supporting column 1I has its end seated in the countersunk bore 16 and rigidly secured to the hub 69 in any suitable manner as by welding, soldering or the like. A series of skeleton disks or spreaders 12 are mounted on the column 1I at spaced intervals along its length with their hubs 13 embracing the column and suitably secured thereto. Arms 14 extending radially from the hubs are joined to annular rims formed with spaced radial slots 16 on their peripheries. A series of radiallyextending slats 11 are mounted in the alined slots 16 in the spreaders 12 and extend throughout the a slot 58 in the rod to prevent the latter from greater portion of the length of the column 1I. 75

The slats 11 are rigidly secured to the spreaders 12 by welding, soldering or other means to form l an open-sided stringer on which the packages P are mounted in axial alinement with the outer edges of the slats supporting the paper cores C on which the packages are wound while providing for a free flow of the treating fluid through the holders radially thereof.

A group of packages P are mounted on the holder v63 with or without spacers 18 between their ends to adapt them to be clamped together on the holder by an end plate 19 to form a selfcontained unit. The end plate 19 has a hollow interiorly-threaded hub 80 which cooperates with a threaded collar 8| rigidly secured to the upper end of the supporting column 1| and outwardly curved linger-grips 82 are provided on the end plate for screwing it down on the column or for lifting the complete unit. The end plate 18 is screwed longitudinally of the supporting column 1I to seal the ends of. the cores or paper tubes one against another. In other instances when eompressible cores, for example springs with stockinet covers, are used the packages may be compressed to bring the material to a predetermined density. In this manner the packages P may be assembled on the holders 83 to form selfcontained units prepared before placing them on the carrier 30 forl application vto the kier'8 while a dyeing operation is being performed.

The self-contained holder and package units are detachably clamped to-the carrier 30 with the annular seats 85 in engagement with the -ends of the nipples 4I, as shown in Fig. 2, by rods 83 extendingl through thehollow columns 1I. The rods 83 have threaded ends 84 which are screwed into the tapped holes 44 in the hubs 43 of the nozzles 39. Wing-nuts 85 orvlother devices are provided on the upper ends of the rods 83 for seating against the hub portions 80 of the end plates 19. 'I'he wing-nuts 85 are screwed onto the threaded ends of. the rods 83 and secured xedly thereto by heading over the end of the rod whereby the rods serve as the means for clamping the holders 63 to the carrier 30 and sealing the joints between the ends of the nipples (il and the annular seats 65 of the base members 64 as their threaded ends 84 are screwed into the tapped holes 44 in the nozzles.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings a modifiedA form of holder for the dye-cops or packages is shown which permits circulation of the dye liquor or other treating fluid in opposite directions whileV preventing collapse of the paper tubes when the .pressure is from the outside of the packages. In

this form of construction a hollow cylindrical standpipe 86 is'substituted for the spreaders 12 and radially-extending slats 11 in the previously described construction. The lower end of the standpipe 86 is supported from and rigidly se l cured to the interior of the cylindrical base member 64 inl any suitable manner as by welding, soldering or the like. The cylindrical standpipe 88 hasrows of perforations or holes 81 and as herein illustrated the alternate rows of perforasameI construction as the end plate 19 but has a central annular recess 89 into which the end ol' the standpipe 86 extends to guide the plate as it is screwed down on the column 1I. respects the holder is of substantially the same arrangement as that of the previously described form and adapted to be detachably mounted on the carrier 30 in the same manner.

The apparatus having now been described in detail its mode of operation will be next explained. A group of packages P are first mounted n each of a plurality of holders 63 of the type adapted for the particular method of treatment to be practiced. As explained above, if the packages are to be treated by immersion only or by forcing the treating fluid into the interior of the packages., and radially outward through the material the form of holder disclosed in Figs. 2 to 4 isy used as the radial slats 11 will adequatelyV support the paper cores C and provide for a free flow of the treating fluid. However, if the uid is to be forced in opposite directions through the package the form of holder shown in Figs. 6 and I is preferable to prevent the relatively unstable paper cores from collapsing. In either case the end plate 19 or 88 is removed from the holder 63 and the packages P slid thereon to dispose them in axial alinemelnt and preferably with suitable separators 18 between their ends to prevent the yarn in adjacent packages from being matted and tangled. The lowermost package ofthe group is supported by the upper face 51 of the base member Ell and when a desired number of the packages have been mounted on the holder the end plate 19 or 88 is screwed down on the threaded collar 8i fast on the column 1I by means of the nger-grips 82. As the end plate is screwed down on the collar 8| the ends of the paper tubes are forced into meeting engagement to effect a liquor seal between the packages. A plurality of holders equal to the number of nozzles 39 on the carrier 38 are loaded with groups of packages P and thereafter mounted.on the carrier 3|) in the manner as next explained.

The package units are detachably mounted on the carrier outside the kier 8. 'I o this end 4the attaching rods 83 are passed through the hollow columns 1l of the holders 63 and the latter are handled by the linger-grips 82 to apply the base members 64 in position on the nozzles 38 of the carrier 30. As the holder is thus manipulated the annular seat 65 on the base member 54 is guided into engagement with the end of the nipple 4l by the depending skirt 66 which rides over the beveled end of the nipple. When the base member is properly seated the wing-nut 85 on the end .of the rod 83 is turned to screw the threaded end 86 of the rod into the tapped hole 4l in the centrallypositioned hub 43 of the nozzle 39. As the threaded end 8l of therod 83 is screwed down into the hub 43 the wingnut 85 engages the hub portion 88 on the end plate 18 or 88 and thereby acts through the rigid column 1| and base 64 to clamp the annular seat 55 of the base memberv against the end of the projecting nipple 4I' to seal the ioint therebetween. The rod 83 extendngvupwa-rdy through the hollow column 1l will then rigidly support the holder 63 on the carriei" 30. In this manner a. package unit is connected to each nozzle 38 and detachably supported on the carrier 30.

In all other The loaded carrier 38. illustrated in Fig. 1 is then bodily lifted by the bail 89 and lifting rod l5 andlowered into the in'er 8 by alining the tubular rod with the attaching rod 56. As the carrier 30 approaches tizi` bottom of the kier 8l the spider formed by the upwardly and inwardly directed arms I9 enters the inlet opening 36 in its bottom wall and guides the surrounding rim or boss 31 into engagement with the annular seat I1 on the bottom 9 of the kier. When the carrier 30 is seated in the kier 8 the attaching rod 56 extends upwardly through the tubular lifting rod 45 with its threaded end projecting lo thereabove. The bail 49 is swung into engagement with the side of the lifting rod 45, the cap 54 applied over the end of the attaching rod 56 with the extended ends 52 of the bail positioned in the recesses 60, and the nut 55 screwed down 1.', on the threaded end of the rod in the manner previously explained. As the nut 55 is screwed down against the cap 54 it impinges against the upper end of the lifting rod 45 to clamp the carrier 30 in the kier 8 while compressing the .f gaskets 53 and 62 to seal the joints between the annular seat I1 in the kier 8 and the rim 31 on the carrier 3l)v and between the cap 54 and collar 46 at the'upper end of the lifting rod.

The treating fluid is then continuously pumped through the intake pipe I4 and inlet opening 36 into the chamber 33 in the carrier 30 and thence dispensed through the outlet nozzles 39 in the top wall 3i of the carrier. wardly through the hollow holders 63 and radially outward through the slats 11 or perforations I1 depending upon which type of holder is used, and then through the porous cores C and packages P. The fluid drains down through the anular space 34 between the edge of the carrier 3., 3l and the wall IIJ of the kier 8 and is exhausted through the outlet 22 and pipe 24. The exhaust pipe 24 directs the fluid back to the pumpby which it is again recirculated through the apparatus. After the treating operation has been completed the carrier 30 is released from the kier 6 by unscrewing the nut 55 on the upper threaded end of the rod 56, the cap 54 being then removed and the bail 49 swung to its upright position, so that the loaded carrier may be bodily lifted from the kier by'means of a chain hoist or suitable tackle. The package-holder units .are then detached from the carrier 30 exteriorly of the kier 8 by unscrewing the rods 63 and lifting the units off from the nozzles 39. 5,) Another series of previously assembled package units are then applied to the carrier and another treating operation performed inthe kier 8; ,it being understood that during this second treatment in the kier the first-treated packages P 0n the holders 63 may be subjected to further processing or removed and other packages to be treated mounted on the holders in the manner explained above. V

It will also be understood that when the C9 treating fluid is forced through the package units from the outside lor in both directions the form of holder 63 shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is used. With this form of holder the relatively unstable paper cores C are supported interiorly by the perforated cylindrical standpipe 86 and exteriorly by the packages C. In this manner the cores C will be prevented from collapsing and the treating fluid will pass through the perforatlons 81 in the standpipe and the perforations 79 in the core alined therewith and through the packages P, or in the reverse direction.

'Ihe apparatus and its'mode of operation having now been described it will be observed thatv the invention provides for treating packagesl of textile materials with fluids in such manner The fluid passes upas to facilitate the handling of the packages before, during and after such treatment by providing for their assembly in self-contained units independently oi' the kier or carrier.

. It will further be observed that the apparatus includes novel forms of holders for mounting groups of packages ,f in self-contained units, a portable carrier on which the units are detachably mounted and a kier into which the loaded carrier is bodily lowered and thereafter detachably clamped in position to be treated. The invention thus provides for assembling and maintaining groups of packages in self-contained units which may be prepared while the dyeing kier is being used for a previously prepared batch, and which may also be employed in other processing steps, such as washing, extracting, drying, reconditioning and the like either before or after the dyeing process.

While we have herein described and illustrated a preferred form of construction of the device it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore. without limiting ourselves in this respect, we claim:

1. In an apparatus for 'dyeing or otherwise treating fibrous materials with fluids, the combination of a kier having an opening in its bottom for supplying a treating fluid thereto, a hollow portable carrier adapted tobe supported in the kier to form a false bottom therein, said carrier having an inlet in its bottom wall for cooperation with the opening in the bottom of the kier and a plurality of nozzles in its top wall for dispensing the fluid, hollow holders for mounting groups of packages in axial alinement hollow portable carrier adapted to be supported in the kier to form a false bottom therein, said carrier having an inlet in its bottom wall for cooperation with the opening in the bottom of the kier and a plurality of nozzles in its top wall for dispensing the fluid, each of said nozzles being formed with an annular seat, hollow holders for mounting groups of packages in axial alinement to form self-contained units independent of the carrier or kier, means on the holders for securing the packages in place thereon, sa'id holders having annular seats for cooperation with the annular seats of the nozzles on the carrier, means for detachably clamping the holders to the carrier to maintain their annular seats against the seats of the nozzles to form liquid tight seals, and means for detachably clamping the carrier in the kier with a liquid tight seal between the inlet in the carrier and the opening in the bottom of the kier.

3. In an apparatus for dyeing or otherwise treating fibrous materials with fluids, the com-` bination of a kier having an opening in its bottom for supplying a treating fluid thereto, a hollow portable carrier adapted to be supported in the kier to form a false bottom therein, said carrier having anfinlet in its bottom wall for cooperation with the opening in the bottom of the kier and a plurality oi nozzles in its top'wall for dispensingthe iluid, hollow detachably mounting the package units on the can'ier with their ends in communication with the nozzles, cooperating means on the kier and carrier for guiding" the inlet in the carrier into Y register with the opening in the kier, and means extending through the carrier and engaging the guiding means on the kier for clamping the carrier in position in the kier.

4. In an apparatus of the type indicated, the combination of a kier, a hollow portable carrier adapted to be supported' in the kier toform a false bottom therein; a plurality of holders each adapted to mount a group of packages to form a selicontained Yunit independent of the carrier or kier, means on each holder for compressing the packages carried thereon, means extending -through the holder for detachably mounting the package units Aon the carrier while the latter is outside the kier, said carrier with the package umts mounted thereon being adapted to be lowered into the kier, and means extending through the carrier for detachably connecting it to the kier.

5. In an-apparatus of the type indicated; the

combination of a kier, a' hollow portable carriex` adapted to be supported in the kier to form a i'alse bottom therein, a holder adapted to mount a group of packages to form a self- 'containe'd unit independent of the carrier or kier, and a rod extending through the holder and having an abutment at one end for engaging the holder and means at its opposite .end adapted to be connected to the carrier to 'detachably mount the package unit on the carrier, said carrier with the package unit thereon being adapted to be lowered into the kier, and a rod extending through the carrier to detachably' mount the latter in the kier.

6. In an apparatus of the type indicated, the

combination oi' a kier, a portable carrier adapted' to be lifted into and out of the kier, a tubular rod extendingupwardly from the carrier, a lifting bail pivotally mounted on the upper end of the rod and having extended ends, an attaching rod extending upwardly from the kier through the tubular rod ,on the carrier, a cap mounted on the end of the attaching rod having recessed sides for receiving the extended ends of the bail to lock it in inoperative position, and means for securing the cap on the rod.

7. In an apparatus of the type indicated, the combination oi' a kier, a' portable carrier adapted to be lifted into and out of the kier, means for supporting the carrier, a lifting bail pivotally mounted on the supporting means, and means cooperating with the supporting means to lock the bail in inoperative position.

' ROYAL LITTLE.

WILLIAM A. TRAVER. JOHN M. WOOD. FREEMAN W. FRAIM. 

